The Palmetto Mastersingers will present its annual Festival of Choirs February 23 at 7:30 pm at St. Andrews Baptist Church, 230 Bush River Road.
Hearts of Joy is the program’s theme. Tickets are $10 general admission and are available at www.palmettomastersingers.org, from any of the participating choirs, or at the door on the night of the concert.
Joining the Mastersingers for this event will be the Irmo High School Concert Choir, directed by Frank Turner; Union United Methodist Church Chancel Choir, directed by Don Kirkendoll; and the Lyttleton Street (Camden) United Methodist Church Children’s Choirs, directed by Jason Brown.
The Mastersingers are also be joined by SHE Sings, Columbia’s brand-new all women’s chorus. This will be the first collaboration of the men of the Mastersingers and the women of SHE Sings.
Each choir will present a set of music, and then all will unite for the finale, Hope for Resolution, arranged by Paul Caldwell and Sean Ivory. A juxtaposition of the doctrinal hymn, Of the Father’s Love Begotten, with a South African freedom song, Thula sizwe, that celebrates diversity.
This year the Mastersingers have established a Masterscholars program, which provides financial aid to male college students in music studies. These students become part of the ensemble. The first recipients of this scholarship are John Andrew Felder, completing his doctoral degree in vocal performance, and Dwight Dockery, pursuing a doctorate in choral conducting.
